UCU Goes Green

The Climate Caravan
This has been organised by the trade union arm of the Campaign Against Climate Change to promote their Million Climate Jobs Report. This details how a government programme of investment in climate jobs, such as public transport, home insulation and renewable energy, would not only help tackle unemployment by creating up to one million jobs, but would also significantly reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions. The caravan will be visiting several businesses that show the potential for future growth in the green economy. Monday morning will start at Olive, environmental consultants based at Chilworth Science Park, then move on to see the Sustainable Building Centre recently opened by Elliotts’ Builders Merchants. The final visit is to Portswood Cycles, who sell and support electric bicycles. Alan Whitehead MP will welcome the Caravan to Guildhall Square at 1pm, when there will be a 10-minute video about climate jobs in the Itchen Suite of the Sir James Matthews Building. During the afternoon, the Caravan will remain in Guildhall Square with information about the climate jobs campaign. There will also be a variety of stalls by local campaign groups.

The Caravan tour continues the following day, with visits to Portsmouth, Brighton and finally London.

‘Green jobs’ event, Southampton Solent University, Sir James Matthews Building, Guildhall Square at 7pm.
The event will highlight how the creation of climate jobs can help solve both the economic and climate crises. Speakers from both of the City’s Universities, Southampton City Council, trades unions and campaigners will be discussing this at an open public meeting and panel discussion. Speakers include Dr. Richard Blackwell, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, Simon Kemp of the University of Southampton, UK Academic Lead on Education for Sustainable Development for the Higher Education Academy (HEA), and Councillor Simon Letts, Environment Officer for the new City Council.

These Southampton events have been organised by representatives of the Southampton and SW Hants Trades Union Council, Southampton Solent University, the University of Southampton UCU, the local Green Party and the Low Carbon Group of Southampton City Council.

Further Information
Details of the tour can be found online at www.climate-change-jobs.org
The Million Climate Jobs Report can be found online at http://www.climate-change-jobs.org/sites/default/files/1MillionClimateJobs_2010.PDF